Impulse-transmitting mechanism.



A. H. ADAMS.

IMPULSE TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. 1914.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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, Ari/var H Adams.

A H. ADAMS.

IMPULSE TRANSMITTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FIL'ED NOV. 30, 1914f1,16%,Q6, Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

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. Affy W/fnesses:

ARTHUR H. ADAMS, OF SPARKILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRICCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21,1915.

Application filed November 30, 1914. Serial No. 874,683. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. ARTHUR H. ADAMS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Spar-kill, 'in the county ofRockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Impulse- Transmitting Mechanisms, of which the fol;lowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to impulse transmitting mechanism, for useparticularly in substations for automatic exchanges, and has for itsobject to provide a new and improved device of this character, of fewand simple parts. in which the possibilities of confusing the receivingmechanism by a forced operation of the transmitting device areeliminated by the provision of means for locking the setting meansagainst operation during the operation of sending out impulses.

In a device embodying the features of this invention thereis a settingdevice operable in forward and backward directions, an interrupter alsooperable in forward and backward directions but effective only in itsbackward movement to send out impulses, and connections between saidsetting device and said interrupter for causing the opera tion of saidinterrupter only after said setting device has returned to normalposition, and for locking said setting device in normal position untilsaid interrupter has completed its operation.

In the drawings illustrating this inven tion-Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of the impulse transmittingdevice with a portion of the mechanismcut away; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. l is asectional view taken on the line 4@l of F 3; and Figs. 5 and 6 are viewsof details of. the impulse sending mechanism.

The impulse transmitter comprises a dial plate 7 mounted in front ofwhich by means of a shaft 8, is a finger hole plate 9. The dial plate 7forms the front wall of a c vlindrical inclosing case 10 for'housing themechanism used in transmitting impulses. The shaft 8 has its inner endrecessed to accommodate a second shaft 11. thelatter of which is mountedaxially of the casing 10 and functions as a supporting means forrotatably mounting the various elements comprising the impulse sendingmechanism.

the reduced portion of pro ect1ng a short distance on both sides Thefinger plate 9, is separated from the dial plate 7 by means of a bearing12, which functions to provide a space between the dial and fingerplate. Within the casing. 10 and adjacent the dial plate 7 is a coilspring 13 which is attached to the shaft 8 and adapted to supply themotive power for operating the impulse sending mechanism when it iswound up by rotating the finger plate 9 in a clockwise direction, andafterward released by the operator. Extending from the shaft 8 is alever arm 14', the free end of which has a reduced portion forming anextension finger. Immediately back of the lever arm 14 and thereof, ismounted a pin 15 which serves as a pivot for a spring pressed pawl 16and as a stop for locking the fingerplate 9. Next to the lever arm 1%and carried by a bearing 17 journaled upon the shaft 11 is a ratchetwheel 18. The pawl 16 is positioned to be in operative relation with theratchet wheel 18, so that when the pawl is moved in a counter-clockwisedirection, the ratchet wheel is advanced thereby. Adjacent the ratchetwheel 18 and attached to the bearing 17 is a second coil spring 19. Itmay be mentioned here that the strength of the spring 19 is considerablyless than that of spring 13, which permits the former spring to wind thelatter spring in a manner hereinafter explained. The outer or free endof the springs 13 and19 are fastened to any suitable support orretaining member 20 which is secured to the casing 10. Mounted upon abearing 21 which may be integral with or connected tothe bearing 17 isan impulse wheel 22 having a corresponding number of teeth as there aredigits or designation characters made upon the dial plate .7. Pivotallymounted to the rear wall 23 of the inclosing case 10 and in operativerelation with the impulse wheel 22 and contact spring members 21, is abell crank lever 25. The long'arm of the lever 25 carries a. rollerwhich engages the teeth of the impulse wheel 22 when it is rotated. Aspring 31 attached to a projection on the bell crank lever 25 and havingits opposite end anchored by a post 32, functions as a means fornormally keeping the contact lever 25 out of engagement with contactspring members.

Mounted intermediate the coil spring 19 20. of hiagnng and "the'impulsewheel 22 is a large gear wheel 33 which is adapted to mesh with a pinion34. The pinion 34 is secured to a shaft 35 carried by a bracket 36 thatis 5.suitably fastened by means of screws 37 to therear wall 23 of thecase 10. Mountd upon the shaft 35 is a wormgear 39 :Yadapted to mesh'with a .worm 40 formed lupon a shaft 38 carr'y'inga governormechaminism. The governor mechanism (illustrated best by' Fig. 4)comprises the main drive shaft 38 adjustably mounted by means of screws42, 42 which are carried by supports" ,43. Upon one end of the shaft 38a governor wheel 44 having assonor springs 45are confined in a member 46having two bearing f" different diameters. The object the member 46 thisform, is to prov' e1 different speeds for the governor mechanism so thatthe impulse wheel 22 may be rotated faster in one instance than isexpedient in another, as Will be fully 'set' 5 forth hereinafter.

Attached supporting bracket 47 iwhich is secured to the rear wall 23 isa 'latch member 48, which is secured to a shaft 49 carried by saidbracket 47. An arm 50 B0 of the latch member 48 engages a pin 51 carriedby the ratchet wheel 18, under certain conditlons. Another arm 52 ofsaid membr 48 engages the pin under other conditions. An extensionmember 53 fastened to the opposite endof the shaft 49, under the tensionof a spring 54, tends to rotate the I shaft 49 in an upward direction,thereby' keeping the .arm 50' of the latch member 48 normallyengagedwith the pin 51, and when the ratchet wheel 18 is rotated, saidextension comes to rest against the stop post 32. To limit the movementof the ratchet wheel 18 when rotating, in a clockwise direction, anextension member 55 carried by said wheel. 18, is arranged to strikeagainst a normal post member 56. The normal post 56 also functions toarrest the movement of I the lever arm 14 in a counter-clockwise difreedfrom engagement with the ratchet wheel v18, which fact permits saidratchet wheel to be rotated independent of'said pawl under certainconditions.

' The operation of the mechanism compris- 6 ing the impulse transmitteris as follows:

11 it a pair of governor springs 45.

The operator places his finger in the hole in front of the digit forminga part of the number he Wishes to call, and turns the finger hole plate7 in a clockwise direction until his finger strikes the finger stop 26.This operation causes all the elements carried by the shaft 8 to berotated in a clockwise direction, thus effecting the winding of the coilspring 13, and the rotation of the lever arm 14 and pawl 16 carriedthereby. When the operator removes his finger, the energy now stored upin the coil spring 13, rotates the shaft 8 is a counter-clockwisedirection The pawl 16 under the tension of its spring engages one of theteeth of the ratchet wheel 18, thereby causing all of the mechanismmounted upon the shafts 17 and 21 to be movedin a counter-clockwisedirection under the influence of the coil spring 13. This movementcontinues until the pin 27 engages with the normal post 56, whlcharrests the extension arm 14 and at the same time causes the pawl 16 tobecome disengaged from the ratchet wheel 18.

It will be noted that when the ratchet wheel 18 was rotated as describedabove, the arm of theratchet lever 48 was freed from engagement with thepin 51, and under the tension of the spring 54 the lever 48 was given aslight rotary movement until the stop arm 53 engaged the stop pin 32.This operation permitted the hook formed upon the extremity of the lever52, to engage with the pin 15 when the lever arm 14 came to rest. Byvirtue of this arrangement it is now impossible to rotate the fingerplate 9 until the ratchet wheel 18 has been returned to normal position,thereby effecting the disengagement of the hook on the levelarm 48 withthe pin 15. This feature prevents the sending of impulses until all ofthe apparatus has returned to normal position, thus eliminating thepossibility of confusion of impulses which might otherwise result.

Upon the disengagement of the pawl 16 from the ratchet wheel 18, theenergy now stored in the coil spring-19, rotates the elements carried bvthe shafts 17 and 21 in a clockwise direction. The rotation of theimpulse wheel 22: in this direction causes the under the roller carriedby said arm, the

lever 25 is moved in a downward direction, thereby causing the contactsprings 24 to be reopened. As each of the various teeth pass on theydisengage the roller of the lever arm permitting the bell crank lever 25to return to normal position, thus effecting the closure of the contactsprings 24. This intermittent closing and opening of the contact springs24 produce impulses which maybe trans: mitted over a circuit desiredto'be effected. It will be apparent that when memes at the impulse wheel22 was rotated in a counter clockwise direction, the bell crank lever25? was actuated, but in a reverse manner which prevented the opening ofcontact 24. It is, therefore, only possible to transmit impulses whenthe impulse wheel 22 is rotated in a given directions Returning to theoperation of the governing mechanism, it will be seen that saidmechanism was first operated when the-shaft 21 was rotated in a counterclockwise direction. In this operation the governor springs 45 carriedon the governor shaft 38, due to the direqtion of the rotation and acorresponding longitudinal movement of the shaft 38, engaged the greaterdiameter of the cupped member 46. Because of the reduced frictionbetween the governor springs and the bearing surface now engagedthereby, the shaft 38 was permitted to rotate at a higher speed thanwhen the shaft is rotat-- ing in the opposite direction. WVhen theimpulse wheel moves in a clockwise direction, the direction of rotationand longitudinal movement of the governor shaft 38 is reversed, and thegovernor springs 45 then engage the smaller bearing surface of thecupped member 46 which considerably reduces the movement of the impulsewheel 22 and the mechanism rotated in synchronism therewith. It willthus be seen that when the impulse wheel 22 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, it may be,

rotated at a greater speed than when turning in a clockwise direction.This feature provides a means for rapidly setting the impulse sendingmechanism, and a slowerand more uniform speed for transmitting theimpulscs.

From the above description it will be apparent that the features of thisinvention are to provide an impulse transmitting device which embodiesmeans whereby it is possible to control the speed at which impulses maybe transmitted, and also prevent the transmission of succeeding impulsesuntil the preceding impulses have been sent, and the transmittingmechanism returned tonormal position.

What is claimed is: a

1. In an impulse transmitting device, an interrupter movable in forwardand backward directions, contact springs operated by said interrupter inone direction of move 'ment to send out current impulses, an actuatingmeans mdyable in forward and backward directions, connecting meansbetween said interrupter and said actuating means for caus ng theoperation of said interrupter after sald actuating means has returned tonormal position, and means for locking said actuating means againstmovement during the movement of said interrupter to send out impulses. M

2. In an impulse transmitting device, an interrupter movable in forwardand backward directions, contact springs operated by said interrupter inone direction of movement to send out current impulses, settingmechanism movable in forward and backward directions, connecting meansbetween said setting means and said interrupter for moving saidinterrupter in the same relative direction .to the movement of saidsetting means, means for moving said inter-.,

. shaft, a second shaft rotatable independently of said first-mentionedshaft, a" disk carried -thereby having notches in its periphery adaptedto be engaged by said pawl in a given movement of said finger dial torotate said seeond-mentioned shaft, means for disengaging said pawl fromsaid disk when said finger dial has reached normal position, means forrotating said secohd-mentioned shaft in a direction opposite to that inwhich it was rotatdby the movementof the finger dial,circuit-interrupting springs operated in the last movement of said shaftto send out current impulses. a'pivotally supported latch adapted toengage said pawl supporting means to prevent the rotation of said fingerdial during the sending out of impulses, and means carried by saidnotched disk for disengaging the said latch from said pawl supportingmeans at the end of the .impulse sending operation of said interrupter.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscrlbe my name this 28th day ofNovember, D.

